Tuesday 2 June 2015

Ombrone, Sant'Antimo DOC: A Useful Guide



In Montalcino there are 4 denominations: Rosso di Montalcino, Brunello di Montalcino, Sant'Antimo and Moscadello di Montalcino, an ancient sparkling white wine.

Unlike Rosso and Brunello, which are 100% Sangiovese, the Sant'Antimo DOC is a sort of winemakers' workshop, allowing producers to introduce the so-called International varieties  - that Lionel doesn't use to call this way - in this area.

We took the name Ombrone from the river passing beside our hill, which goes from the Chianti area to the Tyrrhenian Sea and is the west boundary of Montalcino.

The peculiarity of our Ombrone resides in the fact that Lionel changes its assemblage every year, according to the vagaries of the seasons and of the harvest.


Many journalists, sommeliers and critics have talked about our cuvée. Here's a recap.

First of all, Matthew Jukes - Daily Mail and MoneyWeek columnist, most influential wine writer in the UKhas talked about the 2008 (http://moneyweek.com/575-wine-of-the-week-a-wine-worth-its-weight-in-gold-57548/) and 2010 (http://moneyweek.com/a-legendary-super-tuscan-to-blow-your-mind/) vintages, defining the last one «A legendary Super-Tuscan to blow your mind».

The 2008 Ombrone was reviewed by Antonio Galloni for The Wine Advocate too: http://cupanonews.blogspot.com/2012/05/ombrone-2008-on-wine-advocate.html

Also the two Best Sommeliers of the World, Markus Del Monego and Andreas Larsson, ont dégusté that vintage for TASTED: http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13565-cupano-ombrone

Always talking about the 2008, here's what Francis Bown of Bown's Best wrote: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/BownsBest.jpg

Now let's go back to the 2006 vintage, which is 50% Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot in equal parts.

Ian D'Agata & Massimo Comparini included our Ombrone 2006 in their list of 100 Italy's Best Wines in 2010: http://www.cupano.it/INGLESE/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/miglioriViniItalia_2010.pdf. D'Agata talked about Ombrone in Ecco, his personal guide to the greatest Italian wines too: http://cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/ECCO%20GUIDE.pdf

Will Di Nunzio and Janice Cable from Italian Wine Merchants, iconic Italian wine shop in New York, have often talked about that millésimehttp://www.insideiwm.com/2014/05/19/expert-picks-cupano-and-il-palazzone/

Ms. Cable also wrote an introduction to our estate and esprit de viehttp://www.insideiwm.com/2013/12/09/looking-at-cupano-makers-of-brunello-and-iwms-newest-find/

Still, it came out as the greatest Sant'Antimo both for 2006 (http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Altissimoceto.pdf) and 2007 (http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/AltissimoCeto2010_2011.pdf) for Altissimo Ceto, achieving special mentions. These reviews were made by Ivano Antonini, 2008 Best Italian Sommelier, and Cristiano Cini, who are part of the 4-members jury declaring the Best Italian Sommelier every year.

The 2007 Ombrone was reviewed on Wine Enthusiast as the greatest «Other Reds», outside the Chianti, Brunello and Montepulciano denomination: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Wine%20Enthusiast%20OMBRONE%20TESTO.pdf

Furthermore, here's an introduction to this vintage made by our British importer Swig: http://www.cupano.it/PDF_STAMPAeALTRO/Swig,%20Ombrone%202007.pdf

The 2009 and 2010 vintages received 94 points by TASTED, greatest Italian wines tasted in 2014: http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13116-cupano-ombrone
http://www.blindtasted.com/wine/view/13117-cupano-ombrone 

In Summer 2015 the Ombrone 100 - Cabernet Sauvignon in purezza - 2011 received 94 points from TASTED too: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PxwwrdhUWvA